Cropredy 2025 News

[Will S]

More of an observer for this but some general points-
...

All complete conjecture and speculation on my part fwiw. Let’s hope the lineup is full of surprises and things grow again. I suspect they will! Fairport have done what so many couldn’t and I suspect some surprises and that the personal favor list might be utilized, and why shouldn’t it be. One act I wonder if they will be booked again is Oysterband. Guess we’ll soon find out! Happy there is life yet foremost
 

Having seen the Oysters last night (on their farewell tour) it struck me that they would be great back at Cropredy.  Just checked their website, and they are down to do Shrewsbury at the end of August, and then a Danish festival just afterwards, so it would theoretically be possible, and as a 'last chance to see' they might well prove a draw.

[Andy]

Some clarification from Fairport this morning: they *may* release more tickets. But only after 6,500 have been sold.

[Adam]

I do wonder if the Brasenose lineup could be stronger than the main festival next year (I appreciate that stronger is very subjective, etc, etc), especially as some performers at the Brasenose have previously graced the main stage…will there be any discernible difference?

[Tasha]

I definitely read that as this year they are indeed downsizing the facilities to only accommodate 6,500 punters.

That cuts costs for infrastructure, number of fields needed, staffing etc.

The main field will be sparsely populated in comparison to the glory days.

Im trying to imagine what the main arena would look like? less tickets mean less food outlets and less stalls?

[davidmjs]

Some clarification from Fairport this morning: they *may* release more tickets. But only after 6,500 have been sold.

This is the comment from Fairport on FB.  

There will hopefully be the same number of traders (we're just charging them less to compensate). At this point, if we sell out 6500 in record time, we may release more tickets. At this stage, nothing is certain. This though is the downscaling model we have for this year. We have to sell 6500 tickets, minimum.


I suspect the actual festival next year will end up being remarkably similar to previous years...but just with less stress for the organisers.  In which case, job done.

[Nick Reg]

The more I think about it the more confused I am getting . I have enjoyed very few of the main headliners recently (Brian Wilson and RT being the main exceptions). Many I have totally ignored  or managed 10 minutes of (Nile Rogers Level 42, Divine Comedy, Bellowhead, Joan Armatrading ). Some who I expected to enjoy but didnt (Madness, UB40, Supergrass). There have however been some outstanding performances lower down the bill (Merry Hell obviously, Young Uns, Turin Brakes, Al Stewart, Morganway, Gerry Colvin, Paul Brady etc). I would be happy with a bill of folk rock stalwarts (Trad Arrr, Merry Hell, Gerry Colvin, Gaz Brookfield, Reg Meuross, Oysterband , Skinny Lister, Leatherat, Thea Gilmore, Lindisfarne etc etc). BUT AND ITS A BIG BUT £500 would be way over the top for that sort of line up. Will we see more people deserting for the smaller festivals. I will await developments and compromises with interest but there is no way I am going to commit to a ticket until more details are forthcoming. You cant say I've got a good book here you can have it for £20 but I'm not telling you what it is!

[davidmjs]

You cant say I've got a good book here you can have it for £20 but I'm not telling you what it is!

But you can, Nick.  Loads of festivals do that.  Start with Glastonbury...and that sells out with no acts announced at all...

[Peter Allen]

I would trust Emily Eavis wouldn't book Jasper C as a "special surprise guest" when there's only one stage

[Shane (Skirky)]

End of the Road aren't announcing any turns until next year, tickets are £240, and the first tier has already sold out.
And actually, a mystery book package featuring a novel of your chosen genre has been a staple of the gift circuit for years.  

[Will S]

I feel next year will be very much an 'intermediate' year.  It's going to be a 'let's try this and see if we can keep the thing going' year (much like 2004, after Chris Pegg stepped aside, and it was branded for that one year only, I think, as Cropredy Music Festival).  I don't expect them to have everything ironed out, and assuming it works, and we get a 2026 Cropredy too, it may look a bit different again, but for the moment I'm just grateful they haven't decided to shut up shop given the challenges they faced this year, and are obviously still facing for 2025.

[Lubiloo (Lorna)]

Difficult, at this stage, to picture how this will pan out. I don't think comparisons with the likes of Glastonbury are relevant.

It is always a big decision whether to make the almost 600 mile journey (each way) with relevant expenses on top of the ticket price. My concern is that the overall "vibe' may change.

Look forward to hearing more.

[Sue & Chris]

The more I think about it the more confused I am getting . I have enjoyed very few of the main headliners recently (Brian Wilson and RT being the main exceptions). Many I have totally ignored  or managed 10 minutes of (Nile Rogers Level 42, Divine Comedy, Bellowhead, Joan Armatrading ). Some who I expected to enjoy but didnt (Madness, UB40, Supergrass). There have however been some outstanding performances lower down the bill (Merry Hell obviously, Young Uns, Turin Brakes, Al Stewart, Morganway, Gerry Colvin, Paul Brady etc). I would be happy with a bill of folk rock stalwarts (Trad Arrr, Merry Hell, Gerry Colvin, Gaz Brookfield, Reg Meuross, Oysterband , Skinny Lister, Leatherat, Thea Gilmore, Lindisfarne etc etc). BUT AND ITS A BIG BUT £500 would be way over the top for that sort of line up. Will we see more people deserting for the smaller festivals. I will await developments and compromises with interest but there is no way I am going to commit to a ticket until more details are forthcoming. You cant say I've got a good book here you can have it for £20 but I'm not telling you what it is!

So, just to be clear, you generally don't like the headliners, but you won't pay the ticket price to see the sort of bands that you do like? Even though it's similar to that of the 'smaller festivals' where these bands predominate?

You sound impossible to please!

[barton cobbler]

I do wonder if the Brasenose lineup could be stronger than the main festival next year (I appreciate that stronger is very subjective, etc, etc), especially as some performers at the Brasenose have previously graced the main stage…will there be any discernible difference?

About £200 !

[Nick Reg]

The more I think about it the more confused I am getting . I have enjoyed very few of the main headliners recently (Brian Wilson and RT being the main exceptions). Many I have totally ignored  or managed 10 minutes of (Nile Rogers Level 42, Divine Comedy, Bellowhead, Joan Armatrading ). Some who I expected to enjoy but didnt (Madness, UB40, Supergrass). There have however been some outstanding performances lower down the bill (Merry Hell obviously, Young Uns, Turin Brakes, Al Stewart, Morganway, Gerry Colvin, Paul Brady etc). I would be happy with a bill of folk rock stalwarts (Trad Arrr, Merry Hell, Gerry Colvin, Gaz Brookfield, Reg Meuross, Oysterband , Skinny Lister, Leatherat, Thea Gilmore, Lindisfarne etc etc). BUT AND ITS A BIG BUT £500 would be way over the top for that sort of line up. Will we see more people deserting for the smaller festivals. I will await developments and compromises with interest but there is no way I am going to commit to a ticket until more details are forthcoming. You cant say I've got a good book here you can have it for £20 but I'm not telling you what it is!

So, just to be clear, you generally don't like the headliners, but you won't pay the ticket price to see the sort of bands that you do like? Even though it's similar to that of the 'smaller festivals' where these bands predominate?

You sound impossible to please!

Very easy to please actually. NFFF has a brilliant line up next year , announced 12 months in advance and in time to buy early at exactly half the price for 5 days . Cropredy has been a big part of our lives for nearly forty years but I am liking less and less of the line up as the price rockets and attendance is growing more stressful for a number of reasons. I guess we are just growing further apart. Of all the festivals we attend it has become the second most expensive and the least enjoyable although still emjoyable if that makes sense. Your comment misrepresents me to some extent because I would expect to be charged far more for say Taylor Swift or Oasis than for Merry Hell but for me there is only one option, even though I could afford any or all of them. I wouldnt pay £50 for a bag of crisps.

[PhilipK]

With this in mind, for Cropredy 2025, we’re going to limit the number of paid tickets to six and a half thousand. [...] As they say in the supermarkets, “when they’re gone they’re gone”.

Some clarification from Fairport this morning: they *may* release more tickets. But only after 6,500 have been sold.

Hmmmm.

[Nick Reg]

With this in mind, for Cropredy 2025, we’re going to limit the number of paid tickets to six and a half thousand. [...] As they say in the supermarkets, “when they’re gone they’re gone”.

Some clarification from Fairport this morning: they *may* release more tickets. But only after 6,500 have been sold.

Hmmmm.

Pedant alert-what would be the point before 6500 have been sold.

[Tasha]

Some clarification from Fairport this morning: they *may* release more tickets. But only after 6,500 have been sold.

This is the comment from Fairport on FB.  

There will hopefully be the same number of traders (we're just charging them less to compensate). At this point, if we sell out 6500 in record time, we may release more tickets. At this stage, nothing is certain. This though is the downscaling model we have for this year. We have to sell 6500 tickets, minimum.


I suspect the actual festival next year will end up being remarkably similar to previous years...but just with less stress for the organisers.  In which case, job done.

Ok, interesting same number of traders but potentially a third of punters. At least there wont be any queues

[Andy]

Cropredy hasn't had  a sell-out for years. I'd be surprised if as many as 10,000 paying punters attended last year. So, 6,500 not a third of last year.

I put that down to some clumsy marketing including a "special guest" that really wasn't, a less than stellar lineup and some shitty weather.

If you see 15 acts, £220 works out as £14.66-odd per act. That's a cheap gig. Even if you only like half of them, ~£30 is still less than we pay for most gigs these days. So it's still not bad value, it's just more expensive than before. £20 per night for camping isn't unusual either. Let's face it, the Premier Inn charges about £500 for the festival nights these days.

[davidmjs]

 I'd be surprised if as many as 10,000 paying punters attended last year.

Is that a genuine feeling?  I assumed it was at least 14-15k (but obviously I wasn't there)

[Andy]

Is that a genuine feeling?  

Why would I lie?

Anyone else there have an opinion?